Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-05-01
CYCLONES, TORNADOES
AND OTHER VARIETIES OF STORMS ScIEN-
TIFICALLT DESCRIBED.
Prof Chas R. Shrsys Of Hardn's Ferry, Diseases an
Interesting Topic and Shows the Origin
Of SSrms ard Explains
Their Results


will be interesting to people hereabouts
who do not have the opportunity of max
ing an investigation of the cause, action,
and effect of storms;
Storms are produced by inequality OF
atmospheric pressure at different places on
the earth's surface.
Suppose we were in warm room in win
ter and that a window were opened; il
would be found that strong curFnt OF
air would flow into the room through the
open Window wind on small scale
would blow into the room.
The fire had made the air within the
room lighter than the outside air, and when
the window was opened the heavy out
side air rushed into the room
till the weight was the same within
aud without when the current ceased.
Upon the earth's surface this weight of
Che atmosphere, rs is indicated by the
barometer, is not the same in all localities,
and it has been discovered by those who
observe such things, that the tendency is
for the air Of regions of greater pressure
! TO flow towards those less, and winds are
produced. Some winds move in nearly
straight lines, Others travel in circular
courses. OF the latter variety there are
two general classes, those that travel in
wide circles called by the general name
of cyclones and those which travel in a
nearly straight line bat revolye about an
axis or move in narrow circle, OF which
whirlwinds, tOrnadoes, waterspouts, sand
storms and white squalls are examples.
The storm which visited us q week ago
belongs to the latter class 1t was proper
| ly speaking q tornado, and nOta cyclone.
The cyclone results from unequal weight
of atmosphere at equal attitudes. There
! is central region OF calm. This is sur
rounded by q region in which the weight,
or the pressure Of the atmosphere, rs indi-
Gated by the barometer, is the same: line
passing through this region aud around
the region of calm and on which the at
mospheric preSsures is the same, is called
an isobar On the outside of this line n
sebOnd line passes entirely around the first
at varying distances from it on which the
atmospheric pressure is the same at all
points but greater than on the
first line; on the outside of
the second line ether line:
of equal pressure may pass, the pressure
increasing from the first line outward.
These lines of equal pressure are also call
ed isObars or isobaic lines. With the ex-
istence of this set of conditions cyclone
will follow. In accordance with the law
that the air in region of greater pressure
will flow toward one of less, the air all
around the outer circle that Of greatest
weight, will begin to move from right to
left, with a tendency towards the next
inner circle or isObar. In like manner the
air on the line next toward the centre will
move in the same direction also, with q
tendency inward, and so on till between
the outer and inner circles the wind is
blowing from right TO left with great force
entirely around the region of calm within.
Cyclones have diameter of from GOO Ia
1000 niles. The current at any one point
seems TO move in straight line because OF
the great length of the diameter of the cir
Gle in which it moves. The current moves
from right TO left in the northern hemis-
phere, or in direction opposite to that in
which the hands of n clock move. In the
southern hemisphere the cyclone moves
from left to right
| In one part of its course it blows in q
direction Numerically opposed TO its di-
rcctiOn in another and remote part, indeed,
blowing towards all points of the compass
in the different parts of its path. The We
lOcity is greatest where the isobaric lines
are closest together.
Cyclones are horribly destructive at
times, especially when they drive from the
sea upon a low lying coast, rs was the case
in 1870, when the waves were carried upon
the low lands east of the delta of the
Ganges, when more than 100, 900 lives are
said to have been lost.
The tornado and other storms of its
class are caused by inequality OF pressure
and humidity at different attitudes. They
move, so far rs their general direction is
concerned, in nearlyftraight lines, and in
a great majority of instances towards the
northeast, revolving about an axis which is
usually vertical, or nearly so.
The width of the storm is from 40 to
l0,0 600 feet, the average being about 500
yards, and it takes from ten seconds to
half an hour to pass given point.
The velocity of the cyclone is great but
that of the tornado is probably greater.
The forward rate varies from twenty to
sixty miles per hour with an average Of
thirty miles, but the whirling motion must
greatly increase the distance the air travels
50 that its velocity is probably two or three
times its velocity forward.
The carrying power of the whirlinG cur
rent is enormous rs was seen in the storm
here In the tornado that visited Mount
Carmel, ILL.,, June 4, 1877, the spire of the
Methodist church with its vane and gilded
hall was caught up and carried bodily fif-
teen miles.
There is good reason for believing that
at or near the axis of the storm there is an
ascending column of rarelied air, for closed
buildings i'll the center of its track are fire.
quently torn to pieces, the roof going up
and the sides out, as if blown to pieces by
some powerful eXplOsive-the result, with
out doubt, of the sudden expansion of the
air within the house caused by the re-
moyal of the outside pressure by the as
cending column Of rareiied air in the Gen.
ter of the storm.
The blowing ont of the sides of build
ings towards the track Of the storm is
caused by the expansion Of the air within
a building that is shut up, the supporting
body of air on the outside having been in
large measure carried off by the passing
column of whirhng air.
These storms occur most frequently in
the afternoon. In 1872 tOrnadOes reported
to the United States government, 81 came
from midnight TO noon, 1919 from noon to
3 p. m. to midnight.
Thinking the facts above would be Of
interest to your readers / have written
this. I have been actuated by still an
other motive Having seen in passing
Kansas City last summer what the mon
ster can do at home, and having been
within his clutches here, have been in
spired with such respect for his Titanic
majesty that desire to see him called by
his right name. Respectfully,
c. X. SHREvE.
Martins Ferry, o., april 30, 1887.
Wilbur Voted Aye.